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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
(VOL. X.
V.--INSCRIBED IMAGE OF SAMBHAVANATRA, THE YEAR 48. This image was found in one of the smaller rooms of the Jaina section of the Lacknow Masuum without any label or number. There is no particular mention cither of the image or of the inscription in the Minutes or the Annual Reports of the Lucknow Provincial Museum.
This is the only known statue of Sambhavanatha (Plate III.), the third Jina, discovered at Mathură during this period. Figures of Rishabhanitha, Ņēminátha, Parsvanatha and Mahavira have been met with. It is to be noted that Jaina images of the Scythian period cannot be identified satiofactorily unless the names are mentioned in their inscriptions. Most probably, distinctive symbols (chihna) were assigned to the respective Jinas at & much later period. Those distinguishing symbols have not been found in any Jaina image of the Scythian period discovered up to date. The earliest known Jaina statue with a distinctive symbol is the image of Rishabhanitha from the Kankāli Țila mound near Mathuri figured in Mr. V. A. Smith's Jaina stupa (Plate XCVIII). Unfortunately it is uninscribed, but may be assigned to the 4th or the 5th century of the Christian era on account of its technique.
The head and one arm are broken. The Tirthat kara is seated in the dhyānaudra postare on a throne supported by a couple of lions. The space under the throne between the lions is occupied by a bas-relief, showing the Triratna symbol resting on a small wheel and supporting a larger one. Two conches are leaning against the smaller wheel, while a small leaf is added to each side of the larger wheel. The grouping is exactly the same as on the Jaina pedestal, now in the Lucknow Museum, dedicated in the year 49. A male figure stands to the right of this group of symbols, and a female to the left. They bold flowers in their right bands while their left hands are akimbo.
The inscription consists of four short lines.
TEXT. 1 Mahārājasya Huvakshasya sa[m]vacbar[ēj 40 8 va 2 a[i] 10 7 étasya
paviyar K[ofti]yê [ganē] Bama[dā*] 2 [si]yo k[ulle Pachanagariyê såkāya Dhujhavalas[ya) sifin[i]y[e] Dh[ujha)
[6]irig[ēj niyatana 3 [Bu]dkukasya vadhayē savatrana () potr[i]y[e] Yasay[e] dana
Sa[]bhavasya proţima pra4 ta(ti)stape(pi)ta.
TRANSLATION. "In the year 48, the 2nd (month) of the rainy season, the 17th day, of the Mahārāja Huvaksba; on that (date specified as) above, an image of Sambhava was set up by Yaśā, the grand-daughter of Savatrada (?) and the danghter-in-law of Budhuka, at the request of Dhujbagiri (Dhurjasri), the female disciple of Dhujhavala (Dhurjarala) out of the Kottiya-gara, Bama[da]siya (Brahmadīsiya) kula and Pachanagari (Vajranagari, sakhi.
VI.-MATBURĂ BUDDHIST IMAGE INSCRIPTION, THE YEAR 51. The discovery of this inscription was made known to the public by Mr. Growse in 1870. It was found in one of the Jamalpur mounds on the pedestal of an image, most probably of Baddha, of which only the feet are extant. A mala kneels to the proper right with some object, probably a bag, in his hand. It consists of three lines, of which the proper left balf of
Above, Vol. 11. p. 204, No. XX, and p 321, pl. IV, Vol. IX. pp. 244-45. * Growno's Mathura, 2nd edition, p. 107.
